The Lions needed a miracle Sunday to land the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. They got it -- the Jaguars beat the Colts. And then the Lions pulled a miracle of their own, beating the full-strength, first-seed Packers to stay put at No. 2 on the draft board.
With a loss, the Lions would have jumped Jacksonville for the top pick. They just refused to lose.
They overcame an early 7-0 deficit with a bag full of trick plays, then rallied from a 30-27 deficit with a go-ahead drive in the final four minutes before the defense sealed the deal with back-to-back interceptions of Jordan Love -- who had entered the game for Aaron Rodgers in the second half.
Meanwhile in Jacksonville, the Colts, needing a win to clinch a playoff spot, were blown out by the last-place Jags. Jacksonville finished the season 3-14, a half-game worse than the 4-13-1 Lions.
As such, the Jags will have the rights to Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux or whichever player meets their fancy with the first overall pick.
For the Lions, the second overall pick isn't a bad consolation prize. They're guaranteed to land a star pass rusher if they stay put, something they could desperately use, or receive a package of picks if they move down.
And in a draft without a clear-cut franchise quarterback -- another thing the Lions could desperately use -- the No. 1 pick isn't as valuable as it's been in years past.
One thing's clear: Dan Campbell and his players will happily take the win. It was Detroit's first victory over the Packers since the 2018 season finale.